Abstract

Increasing obesity in the UK population includes expectant mothers.1 Data from local antenatal clinics(3391 deliveries and 3826 women booked in 2011) show that the number of women with a BMI>
30 (O) and BMI>50 (SO) are rising particularly in the last 5 years (Fig. 1). We wished to determine the respiratory consequences and maternal outcome for these women.

We examined obese women with a BMI >50 Kg/m2 (SO) who gave birth in 2011 and matched them against non-obese (BMI <30) women (N) who delivered on the same day. The percentage of SO v N women respectively who gave a history of asthma, diabetes and depression, was 67% v 17%, 50% v 0% and 50% v 17% respectively.

We conclude that obesity, particularly in SO, is associated with an increasing burden on the respiratory and psychological health of expectant mothers, on the outcome
of their pregnancies and hospital services.